Fashion Icon: Servalan
Posted: June 30, 2007 Filed under: Uncategorized 1 Comment »Maximum glamour, maximum impracticality, maximum camp, maximum power! Servalan is possibly the most stylish villainess in the galaxy. It’s hard to imagine Blakes 7 without the divinely evil Ms. S, but her role was never originally conceived to be a long-running one and she doesn’t even appear in the first few episodes of the legendary Sci-Fi series. But the character endured, and her incredibly individual style has made her an icon ever since.
The first few series showed Servalan at her iciest. Exquisitely draped jerseys, furs, feathers, high collars, crystals … this überbitch was always in white. As the character established herself as an icon over the four series, the clothes became progressively campier and more consciously sexy. The plunging red sequined halter and net collar were possibly the most memorable, but the final series was also notable with her new identity of ‘Sleer’ and a new wardrobe filled with vampier creations than ever – this time in wholly more appropriate black. Whether it was running up and
down sandbanks in silver platforms, torturing one of the heroes with no bra on or escaping from certain death in a skirt she could barely move her legs in, she always survived in style. Servalan, you’re evil but we still salute you!
“There is something you should realise. There are no women like me. I am unique. That makes me rather dangerous.” – Servalan
To get that Servalan style, why not try this stunning late 70s piece by Tiktiner just listed over at Vintage-a-Peel…
Ossie Spice….
Posted: June 28, 2007 Filed under: 1970s, british boutique movement, celebrities in vintage, celia birtwell, geri halliwell, ossie clark Leave a comment »Imagine my delight when I unfolded The London Paper this afternoon and immediately squealed (internally of course, this is London …. everyone would think I was a crazy woman) at the sight of Geri Halliwell wearing one of the most beautiful Ossie Clark dresses I’ve ever seen! I was a teensy bit old for The Girls way back when, but always had a sneaking admiration for Miss Geri. I loved her old style vampy glamour, the red hair and the fact that she actually demonstrated a personality beyond the confines of the group.
I also loved her immediate post-Spice era, when she took to wearing some more chic, tailored clothes and softened her hair to a strawberry blonde. I’m going to pretend the bleach blonde anorexic phase never happened, and reaffirm that Geri officially rocks.
The Ossie was a masterstroke. Observe the rest of them, all ‘look at me I’m so grown up/serious/thin/so NOT a lesbian‘ and in the case of Victoria Beckham, ‘look at me…..just look at me goddammit…..I’ve spent enough money and eaten dust and air for ten years so I can look like this…..LOOK AT ME YOU PEASANTS!!!‘. Unfortunately Ms. B, I have no desire to look at you. You always look the same and those pvc leggings are particularly heinous. Mel C has great hair and looks prettier than she’s ever done, but the outfit is still blah. Mel B looks like she’s desperately trying to fake amazing post-pregnancy weight-loss with a very frightening corset. Emma Bunton, well she’s always been “nice”. It’s a “nice” dress. Whatever. But Geri. Wow. In the middle of all that black pvc, satin and flesh she looks unbelievably radiant in her wispy Celia print chiffon maxi dress.
Ossie always proportioned the flesh on display so beautifully, and her covetable bosoms don’t look in the slightest bit slutty despite how much you can see of them. The red against the white, the beautiful pre-raphaelite curls, the glowing natural make-up. She might as well be the only one in those pictures. She’s managed to look bohemian rather than bedraggled, soft but still bold and sexy without vulgarity. Perfection. But then, that’s Ossie for you!
Ooh, it’s Rachel Weisz in Ossie Clark!
Posted: June 13, 2007 Filed under: 1970s, british boutique movement, celebrities in vintage, celia birtwell, ossie clark 2 Comments »The lovely Cherie over at Shrimpton Couture is normally the first to post celeb vintage spots, and I have to admit I’m not normally one to be spotting them (unless they’re Ossies it would seem). So I was interested to see Rachel Weisz over at Gofugyourself, wearing a Celia print Ossie.
Now, I will admit that it looks pretty hacked and the stunning Miss Weisz should NOT be wearing anything with a beige base to it (I speak from bitter experience here, and it looks like she has a similar skintone to mine…) – but I’m going to give her a break because she’s wearing an Ossie and she’s a pretty fabulous girl. Next time I’d suggest stronger colours and a longer length. What sayeth you all?
Summer Cleaning
Posted: June 13, 2007 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a comment »
I always view Vintage-a-Peel as a work-in-progress. It’s there, it is essentially finished and in full swing, but one must always evolve. So I recently revamped the entire site, removing the frames, improving the navigation and (I hope) vastly improving the look through a new design and colour scheme.
It was becoming painfully apparent to me that the frames were causing major headaches for those of you with Safari browsers, and were also quite troublesome as far as search engines are concerned. I always appreciate constructive feedback from visitors, so please do let me know if this is now working efficiently or if you have any further suggestions on how to improve the site.
As well as the whole new look, I updated the Inspirational Images and have added more eye candy from my own collection for your delectation. As I said before, I consider the entire site to be a work-in-progress so you can expect more from these sections in the future (and, more importantly, some more delicious items for sale!). The Fashion Icon section is still undergoing some re-jigging to accommodate the new layout – but don’t worry, the first few icons will be back there very soon!
Thank you again for all your continued support and custom!
Love,
Liz xx
